Original Items: Only One Available. This is a very nice Soviet issue TKN-1C (ТКН-1С in Cyrillic) night vision periscope optic, as used on the PT-76 Soviet amphibious light tank, used during much of the cold war. During the Cold War era there was much in the way of development of various night vision devices, and the Soviet Union was no exception. This was one of several different versions developed, which we believe uses infrared light for visualization. It still has original paint and a data plate on the side:

ТКН-1С
(Star)
(Hammer & Sickle)
N7607
I03081

It still has the original rubber eye cup as well as the cover, and the forehead rubber pad is still soft. It looks like most components are present, though we have no idea if it is still functional.

This periscope optic came to us from the American Armoured Foundation, Inc. Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum. The AAF Tank Museum was a living memorial dedicated to the Tank and Cavalry soldiers of the world. Before 1981 some of the artifacts that make up the AAF Tank Museum was a private collection belonging to Mr. William Gasser. Mr. Gasser felt that his collection would be beneficial in educating present and future generations to the sacrifices made and the technologies gained during war. Therefore, in 1981 the AAF Tank Museum was established as a non-profit charitable organization, and Mr. Gasser's donated his private collection to the Tank Museum. Mr. Gasser is still active as Volunteer Director and Curator of the Tank Museum and his knowledge of military history has been a great asset to the museum. Unfortunately after 20 years of operation it had to close its doors, which is when this periscope was acquired.

A lovely Soviet Cold War Tank optic, ready to add to your collection!

The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious light tank that was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armed forces. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Indonesia, Iraq, Syria, North Korea and North Vietnam. The tank's full name is Floating Tank–76 (плавающий танк, plavayushchiy tank, or ПТ-76). 76 stands for the caliber of the main armament: the 76.2 mm D-56T series rifled tank gun.

The PT-76 is used in the reconnaissance and fire-support roles. Its chassis served as the basis for a number of other vehicle designs, many of them amphibious, including the BTR-50 armored personnel carrier, the ZSU-23-4 self-propelled antiaircraft gun, the ASU-85 airborne self-propelled gun and the 2K12 Kub anti-aircraft missile launch vehicle.